AATA Blog

“I remember the exact moment I fell in love with art therapy. I was in high school and speaking with my guidance counselor. I was sharing with her that I felt torn between psychology and art, and wasn’t sure where to place my focus when choosing electives. The moment she told me that art therapy was a field I felt so much excitement and possibility! I went home and began the research. It made so much sense to me to connect with individuals through art.”

“I hope the profession continues to support the need for research initiatives through meaningful collaborations across disciplines, as well as the expansion of research institutes to grow research efforts across and outside of academia.”

“Work to make space to listen to your own heart journey and maximize on your strengths. When you find others who resonate with your work, keep them close. They do not necessarily have to be art therapists. I see research as advocacy in that it can be transformative and authentically life-changing.”

“I had an absolutely wonderful time at this past year’s AATA conference in Pittsburgh, PA. For my first time attending an AATA Conference, I was able to reunite with art therapists I met and admired in the field. I learned about the different applications art therapy has within different populations. I was able to be a witness to the active support art therapists gave to each other, and this furthered my motivation to work towards my goals within the field. ‘This is where I belong!’ ”

“It’s crucial that the field of art therapy continues to prioritize inclusivity and genuinely meet participants where they are. This means actively working to decenter power dynamics within therapeutic relationships and increasing awareness of the many social justice issues we face in our world today.”

“ I am an art therapist who strongly believes in the insight we gain through expressing our ideas in art while in the presence of another. It is powerful how much we learn about ourselves and others, which ultimately frees us from defensive restrictions.”

“My hopes for the future of the art therapy profession are centered around increasing recognition and accessibility to this valuable form of therapy. Art therapy has been shown to have a significant impact on mental health and well-being, making it a crucial tool for individuals facing various challenges and conditions. I believe that art therapy should be recognized nationally and integrated into healthcare systems, schools, and community programs. This recognition can help increase funding and resources for art therapy programs, making them more widely available to those who may not be able to afford it otherwise.”

“Becoming an art therapist has been an incredible journey for me so far. I’ve had the opportunity to watch my clients grow and they constantly inspire me. There’s something that my good friend (and peer) LauraChioma Jones said that has stuck with me as I’m finishing school about art therapy: “It’s not always magic, but sometimes it is.” Sometimes what we do truly does feel like magic, and I can’t wait to see what magical moments happen throughout the rest of my career.”